Review: The Bone Mother

5 stars. I want more. 

This outstanding collection of vignettes - some truly terrifying, others more subtle - weaves traditional figures from Slavic folklore into dark and brutal events from history. Each story is accompanied by a historical photograph; they range in size from a page or two to longer chapters. They are interconnected, but the stories stand on their own, featuring many unique and uniquely terrifying mythological monsters. And of course, the darkest monster of them all: people.

This could not have been more up my alley, and it did not disappoint. I don't say this lightly: it's well-written. Not a word is wasted - the author's style packs a punch. I loved that in many of the stories, characters who encounter something dark or unusual aren't really questioned - they are believed, and the issue is addressed according to those beliefs. It's a fascinating angle to examine folklore. And it makes for some scary stories.

Eye-opening, creative, and captivating - my highest recommendation. I want more!

The Bone Mother on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph